Pipe-coupling.



PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

10.846,7047 H. s. STUGY.-

BIBB GOUPLING. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1906.

"Ullllllllllllllll HENRY S. STUCY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

PIPE-COUPLING.

Specification of' Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application led September 6, 1906- Serial No. 333,557.

To all w/wm t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY S. STUoY, residing at Louisville, in thecounty of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new andImproved Pipe-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates `to certain new and useful improvements inpipe-couplings of the flexible type having provisions in virtue of whichthe coupling may be used either as a steam-pipe coupling or as a wateror other like low-pressure fluid-pipe coupling.

Primarily my invention has for its object to provide a coupling of thistype of a very simple and effective construction with as few coperativeparts as possible and which will readily and effectively serve itsintended purposes.

Generically, my invention comprises a ball-and-socket joint providedwith an improved reversible bearing-ring having provisions in virtue ofwhich the ball and socket will have a tight connection under oneadjustment ofthe ring and a loose connection under another adjustmentthereof.

The essence of my present invention lies in the peculiar type ofbearing-ring and the means of securing it in place on the bell portionof the socket to cooperate with the ball.

With other objects in view than have been heretofore specified. theinvention also includes certain novel features of construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, all of which will be 'firstdescribed in detail and be then specificallypointed out in the claims,reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, in which Figure l isa vertical longitudinal section of my invention, showing the position ofthe parts when adjusted to effect a tight joint, as when my invention isto be used to connect liquid-conveying pipes. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing the parts adjusted to eect a loose joint for steam-pipecouplings. Fig. 3 shows a bearing-ring detached and in longitudinalsection. Fig. 4 shows the ring in end elevation, and Fig. 5 shows adetailed view of a modified form of ring.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals andletters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1designates the socket member of the joint, which has a bell portion 1aprovided on its inner wall with a bearing-flange 1b, having a sphericalbearing-surface lC on the same radius of curvature as the outsidespherical bearing-surface 2b of Jthe ball member 2 on the joint. Thebell la has a flange 1d at its outer edge and is internally threaded at1e to receive a bearing-ring 3. The ring 3 in my present invention hastwo equal spherical bearing-surfaces 3a and 8b on its inner side and apair of threaded portions 3c and 3d of unequal length on its outer face.Between the threaded portions 3 and 3d in the ring 3 the ring isprovided with a nut-like flange 3e to cooperate with the flange 1d, asshown. A set-screw 4 passes through the flange 3 to lock the ring inposition and prevent its becoming unsorewed from the socket member ofthe joint.

When the parts are to be used in the position shown in Fig. 1 forfluid-pipes, then the ring has its longer threaded portion 3C inengagement with the threaded part le of the bell lwith its flange 3c notin touchwith the flange le'of the bell 1a so as to leave anadjusting-space 5, as shown, the set-screw 4 holding the ring in place.As the bearingface 3a wears down the set-screw 4 may be loosened and thering 3 screwed farther into the bell lat to take up the wear, afterwhich the set-screw 4 may be again tightened up. In this position thebearing-face 2b of the ball 2a of the ball member 2 is in close contactwith both the flange 1b and bearing-face 3'L1 of thering 3.

l/Vhen it is desired to use my coupling as a steam-pipe coupling, Iinvert the ring 3 from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown inFig. 2, from which it will be seen the flange 3e tightly engages theflange ld and, if desired, the set-screw 4 may be omitted, or it may beused to lock the ring 3 in place, if desired. The ball-section 2 andsocket-section l are each provided with suitable taps 2X and 1X and nutportions 2y and 1y, respectively, for the usual purposes. Thearrangement of the several parts is such that the ball can be turneduniversally through an angle of twenty degrees from the position shownin IOO . Fig. l-viz. the position in which the taps lx and 2x are instraight alinement. The bearing-face 2b of the ball 2a is of such areathat it will always be in contact with the bearingsurface lr3 of theflange 1b when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l and outofengagement with the flange 1b when the parts are in the position shownin Fig.u 2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very simple,effective, and easily adjusted coupling which can be IIO cheaplymanufactured and Which is composed of a minimum number of parts. Again,should it be desired to have the coupling for use on liquid-pipes onlyor upon steam-.pipes only the ring 3 can be made, as shown in Fig. 5,with equal spherical bearing-faces and with the threaded outer surfaceof equal length, the flange 3e being then midway between the ends of thering. Thus the bearing-ring may be reversed as When the bearingsurfaceWears down and used with the othery bearing-surface until that has beenWorn down before it becomes necessary to rener the ring.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction,operation, and numerous advantages of my invention Will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and Idesire it understood that numerous slight changes in the detailedconstruction and design may he readily made Without departing from thespirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim., and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isw

1. In a flexible pipe-joint, vthe combination with a b all member and abell member, of an. internally-reversible and double-faced bearing-ringhaving an external annular iiange and a pair of unequalexternally-threaded faces, said bell member having an.internallythreaded portion to receive said ring, subl,

stantially as shown and described. l

2. In a flexible pipe-joint, the combination With a ball memberand abell member, of an internally-reversible and double-faced bearing-ringhaving an external annular iiange anda pair of une ualexternally-threaded faces, said bell mem er having an internallythreadedportion to receive said ring, and means carried by the ringeiiange forengaging the bell member to lock the ring in place.

3. The combination With a ball member and a bell member, the bell memberhaving an internal bearing-flange, a threaded mouth and a flangesurrounding the mouth, of 'a reversible bearing-ring having a pair ofequal internal bearing-faces and an external annular flange andexternally-threaded portions that cooperate with the bell-mouth, saidexternally-threaded portions of the ring being of different relativelength.

4. The combination with a ball member and a bell -inember, the bellmember having an internal bearing-fl ange, a threaded mouth and a flangesurrounding the mouth, of a reversible bearing-ring having a pair ofequal internal bearing-faces and an external annular flange andexternally-threaded portions that cooperate With the bell-mouth, saidexternally-threaded portions of the ring being of different relativelength, and a set-screw passing through the ring-flange and engaging thebell-flange.

HENRY S. .STUCY IVitnesses:

WM. H. PAUK, A. A. GILS'.

